The Waikato Times.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 585, 19 February 1876, Page 2

The Waikato Times.

Equal and exact justico to til men, Ot whateveracateorperiuasion, reugiotu or political * # * * # Here ihallthcPren the People's right mamUio, Uxuwod by influence and unbribed by gfun.

SATURDAY, FtiBRUARY 19, 1576.

There will, we trust, be a full meeting of the members of the Waikato Turf Club to be held this afternoon in Gwynne's Hotel, Hamilton, for the purpose of re-Considering the best site for a permanent racecourse, one 'which will be generally convenient for, and acceptable to the Wa.kato district, as a whole. The chief danger we have to fear in racing matters is lest instead of ha\ ing one annual event, worthy of Waikato, local jealousies shall ■ucceed in breaking up our united offort into so many petty meetings unworthy of a sporting community bucq as this — mere sports in fact, not racing properly so called. It is clear that we cannot meet the difficulty by holding the annual two day's races first in one locality and then in another, for this would entail the making of several mce-courfiefl, aninttor iiupossiblo oa fiuun cial grounds. But even were there not this diffioulty the fact woul-d still remain that while on© special j,art of the district would be couvenienced, that of the rema'nder would be sacrificed. Hitherto the races have been held in Lower Wailtato and what haa beeo the consequence ? Why, that the Waikato Turf Club is suppotted mainly by members resident in the Lower WaiKuto. What we need is a central position that will serve all alike, and if suoh 1 an one could be fixed upon, the Club would receive a large Bhare of support from districts such as ILiugiaolm, Te Awamutu, Kihikihi, Alexandia, Ohaupo and Pukerimu, which huve, as yet, given little or no Bupi>ort to it. Now, to advocate any oue of the township* as a suitable site, even wen* it the most clearly such, would not fail to provoke jealousy. Foitunately this is a danger which can be avoided, for the most desiwtble upob in all respects, the most central, the most easily approached ft oin all quarters is one which permits no sue!) element of difficulty. The Ohaupo flat U admirably suited for the purpose. A mag niticeut race course may be obtained there. The locality is nearly equi-distaut from all the principal settlements, except that, perhaps, of Ngaruawahia; but between, that place and Ohaupo there is au excellent road of not more than twenty miles. We do not believe that a site more suitable in a'l respects could be fixed upon, or one the cho.oe of which would give more general witialuctkm, and we trust therefoie to see a lull meeting of the members of the Club and otlieia to-d,iy, that the subject will bo fully and dispassionately discussed, and a locality chosen {which will bw'generally acceptable to the diotiictasa whole. The \\ .akalo Turf meetings ought to be second to none in the Province. It will rest with ourselves whether these shall be so or not. As it is'we iua\ expect a large influx of viutcis fioiu Auckland, bat if the matter weio vi ide a wore general affair than it id— und this it would be, were a permanent race course fixed upon, in a generally centtal puaition such as the Ohaupo Flat — the additional support the Club would receh c would enable it to offer stakes for the several events which would raise the chniacter of our annual race meeting to ouu even of Colouittl impoitauce. The quebtion of the course should at once be dtuided, and we hope that todays meeting will come to some definite conclusion, for, wo understand, that wherover the course ia to be, it is uecessaiy to tuke immediate action to make it sui.td.ble for next year's ruuuiug.